first ball python setup advice.

[taylor9209]

Hi all, this is my first post, but I've read quite a few threads over the last few weeks.
It seems the more I read, the less sure I am. lol
I plan on buying a ball python.
I plan on buying the supplies next week to start the habitat, that way I can get everything worked out before introducing the snake to it.
So, I started out looking at a glass tank setup like most people, but had a few concerns.
I live in Texas, and the A/C is running a good 9 months out of the year, and when it's not, the heater usually is.
Not to mention I keep a pretty cool house, and the glass tank would be in the house.
I'm just not sure how well a glass tank in a 70 degree room would easily have a hot spot of 90, and a cooler spot of 80ish.
Then, humidity, the air is pretty dry in the house, and with the screen top letting heat out, no humidity would stay in either.
I then read about people using sterilite tubs instead of glass tanks.
It seems just the solid lid alone would help out holding in heat, and humidity in my case?
So, unless I've over thought this, heres what I'm thinking.
A 16 gallon sterilite tub, heated by a zooMed's repti-therm UTH, hooked up to the Zoo med's thermostat.
2 hides, one on the hot side, one of the cooler side.
Not sure about humidity yet.
So far, am I on the right line of thinking?
I know this isn't all, but trying to reasure myself before I jump in and start buying, sense this is my first reptile of any kind.
Thanks for the hellp guys.
Once I get these bassics, I'll move on to the next items of the cage.

[kameo37]

Add some holes to the tub and it sounds fine to me. I live in Texas also, though I don't keep my house as cool as you, and the tank works fine for me. Right now, my cool side temps are fine. When it gets cooler, I'll add a CHE to the cool side just to bump it up a few degrees. I have most of the top covered with tin foil and a kitchen towel. Humidity is naturally in the 40s in my house, a few sprays and that bumps it up enough.

[taylor9209]

Yeah, I hope the air temps don't give me problems. At night the A/C gets cranked down pretty low. I guess If I had too, I could do 2 UTH's and 2 thermostats, and just set 1 to around 90, and the other to 80... but obviously, if I can get a more simple setup, the better. I'm probably just worrying to much.

[Kaorte]

If you are getting a hatchling, that 16 gallon tub is going to be enormous. I start my hatchlings in 6 quart tubs and then move them to 15 quart tubs when they are around 300grams.

Also id get a slightly nicer thermostat. If you can afford the herpstat intro, get one!

Also you will need some good digital thermometers

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4

[taylor9209]

If you are getting a hatchling, that 16 gallon tub is going to be enormous. I start my hatchlings in 6 quart tubs and then move them to 15 quart tubs when they are around 300grams

.

So, they don't size like glass?
Thought for a glass tank, it was 10-20 gallons? Why would plastic be different?

Also id get a slightly nicer thermostat. If you can afford the herpstat intro, get one!

Also you will need some good digital thermometers

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4

Is the ZooMed not that good? Kind of trying to keep the cage around the $300 mark. So, feel free to help me piece one together.


I'm actually totally blind, so picking up digital therm's isn't as straite forward.
Unless people know of a talking temp gun?

Sense most on here know nothing about blind spacific products, I figured I'd look for those else where, but suggestions are always welcome.

[kameo37]

I use a hydrofarm thermostat. It's around $30 on amazon. I'm sorry, but I don't have any suggestions for any equipment that has audio. Hopefully, someone can give some suggestions!

[Kaorte]

.

So, they don't size like glass?
Thought for a glass tank, it was 10-20 gallons? Why would plastic be different?




Is the ZooMed not that good? Kind of trying to keep the cage around the $300 mark. So, feel free to help me piece one together.


I'm actually totally blind, so picking up digital therm's isn't as straite forward.
Unless people know of a talking temp gun?

Sense most on here know nothing about blind spacific products, I figured I'd look for those else where, but suggestions are always welcome.

Well, most plastic tubs are not intended for reptiles or animals at all haha. Little hatchlings do well in smaller enclosures because they feel safer. Wide open spaces will sometimes freak them out. I would suggest getting a 15qt tub. It will be a little big at first, but the snake will quickly grow into it.

The zooMed thermostat is extremely basic and still can cause temperature fluctuations. I have a really old reptitemp 500r that is still kicking, but it is a lot of work to keep it at the correct temp. I also have a hydrofarm which isn't too bad, but the temperature setting isn't all that accurate.


Let me look into that! There has got to be a thermometer out there that speaks the temperature.

I think its very doable to create the whole enclosure for under $300. What stores are you planning to shop at? Or are you going to do it all online?

Edit: look what I found!!!! http://www.amazon.com/Talking-Indoor...ng+thermometer

[Kaorte]

Or maybe something more like a infrared temp gun would be better? So you don't have to stick your hand in the enclosure to make the thermometer read the temp.

http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Pro...ng+thermometer

I know its for babies, but it could work!!

[taylor9209]

I actually have already orderd this.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003E46EU4/..._26725410_item
It should be here monday, so I'll know then if it will work for me.
The thought is, put the probe on the hot side abuv the UTH, and put the unit on the cooler side.
It doesn't talk, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to log in from the computer, and read it's readings this way.
I picked this one, b/c it also does humidity, and that's something I couldn't really find that would be doable with out working eye's. lol

But, on the chance this turns out not to work, I could use a backup. lol

As far as buying the stuff.
It's no big deal.
I figured I'd buy the tub at wallMart, if they have something close to what I'm needing. The UTH and ETC, I haven't made up my mind if I'm going to order online (if so, from where), or go to a local pets mart and see what they got in store.

Thanks for the hellp.